Driving, with respect.

By claiming the first of the daylight, these early mornings somehow let you feel that the day is yours. Bit by bit, and with jealousy, you begin to share the morning with the ever increasing road population as they gate crash into your day.This was different though, and certainly not a day that I could lay claim to.

 Remembrance Day Sunday: A day of solemnity and reflection here in the UK, but also of thanks I believe.

So, when the forecast was for sunshine on Sunday, there was divided opinion as to the suggestion of combining a morning of selfish pleasure, in driving noisy brightly coloured cars, with a visit to a remote country war memorial for the 11 am, 2 minute silence. The opinions volleyed back and forth, none more so than amongst the Lotus Seven Club forum (Blatchat). Discussion around interrupting a service by appearing in a cavalcade display of frivolity, admittedly had a certain resonance, certainly if this were to be the outcome, but surely there must be a way of combining a morning of freedom in the country with friends and a period of contemplation for those that fought for what we now have?

The SKCC thought so too, and continued with a plan to meet. A spectacular misty sunrise at one of the highest points amongst the North Downs of Surrey was worth the alarm call in itself.

Sun up! Ship Out!... and the first part, the driving, begins. Late Autumn mist, combined with slowly drying roads lit by the low angled sun, kept the pace down. The mixed capabilities of cars in the group, and last year's tired summer tyres, aligned progress with the considered pace of the day's underlying theme. However, hi-lights would include: skimming through the Sussex countryside on one of the most sublime sweeping and rolling roads ( the unremarkably labelled 'A272'), the cars ahead and behind appearing stationery in their equally matched pace. For minutes at a time the effortless, rapidly changing stage scenery of trees, fields, hills and villages just a moving backdrop to the wavy, single file stream of coloured composites.

All too soon the breakfast alarm would go off and the 272 is abandoned. This time it would be a shared stop with the bikers at the 'Chalet' near Cowfold. They're forgiven the dainty title of this roadside venue, the tea is hot and strong and the food is good, and, as is a requirement these days: a decent price.Quantity is important within that value rating too, but we've yet to define the score card for the Sunrise Sevens award of  'Approved' eateries, but the Chalet would warrant one.

Part 2 , and on from the hearty (!) breakfast and back to the roads of Sussex. The top layer of fleeces were removed as the calorific value of the food bolstered the sun's efforts, now a little warmer, as the 11th hour approaches. Internet satellite mapping helped select the War Memorial at the small hamlet of Stopham as a possible destination for our convoy, key to us: simple access and ease of parking away from the memorial. Mark's research paid off, but it was with sensitivity that we approached the green outside Stopham Church. With plenty of time before 11 o'clock, we were able to limit our arrival impact and gauge as to how our attendance would be perceived. Individually our sensitivity to the situation had been heightened by the preceding debate and opinion, I was ready to 'drive on by' if this appeared in any way uncomfortable... 

The debate, however, was to be won by the 'proposers'.The local congregation gathering around the green immediately made us welcome with remarks as to how nice it was to see us and our cars. When asked as to how we had come to choose their particular spot on the map , Mark responded with the now common place 'Googled it', which luckily was taken as a compliment of some sort by the tweedy lady enquirer. A smattering of Military uniforms and medal bearing chests, amongst the Sunday best of the majority, clearly differentiated the weather proofed 7even drivers from the gathered congregation. Any of our remaining concerns as to gate crashing and perceptions of insincerity were further allayed by even more welcoming comments, genuine interest and thanks for our attendance. 

The words from the Vicar standing at the memorial in this small community would have been similarly repeated across the country almost in unison, each reminding us of the ultimate sacrifice made by many, that so many more of us must not forget. 

The two minute silence at 11am, in it's stark simplicity, was, somehow appropriately, broken by the distant call of crows and the crack of an untimely shotgun volley.

And before the wreath laying, the words: 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

In returning to our cars, our morning and our lives, it was all too easy to rejoin the A272 and back to the continued pace of the 21st century. Freedom to jump in our sports cars and to take any direction we like, if we so chose... let's ensure that it doesn't become so easy to forget those that had little choice in the sacrifice that helped give us that freedom.

Thanks to Mark at SKCC for putting the morning together.

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